Keynote Speakers Poised for Leading Education Innovation Conference in Boston January 30-31

Education innovators from across the country and around the world will gather in Boston from January 30-31 for the 2020 LearnLaunch Across Boundaries Conference.

LearnLaunch announced today the keynote speaker lineup for its 8th annual conference, which will feature new President and Executive Director Jane Swift. The former Massachusetts Governor joined the organization July 1. Swift is a widely acknowledged education policy and innovation leader with decades of experience in government and the private sector. She serves on a number of boards, including Academic Programs International, a privately held study abroad company. She will be hosting a Future of Work showcase together with University of Massachusetts President Marty Meehan and Rosalin Acosta, Massachusetts Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, on day two of the conference.

At Across Boundaries, thought leaders will discuss their biggest opportunities and frame their largest challenges as they explore how the structure of education and learning may change over the next generation and the direct impact it will have on the workforce. Specifically, they will examine issues such as Artificial Intelligence, workforce development, technology, gaming and financial assistance during the conference, which is focused on "Creating the Future of Learning."

"Setting a child up for lifelong success takes a village and it starts with early education and continues throughout their life," said Swift. "At Across Boundaries, we are bringing together thought leaders from across the education and employment sectors to strategize about how the education we are providing today will shape the employees and leaders of tomorrow, and how to integrate innovation as a tool to improve teaching and lifelong learning."

On Thursday, January 30, a keynote panel comprised of Michael Hansen, CEO of Cengage, Frank Britt CEO of Penn Foster and Jamie Candee CEO of Edmentum, will explore the influence of technology on learning and the future workforce. The conversation will be moderated by John J-H Kim of Harvard Business School.

Other highlights of day one include keynote speeches by Dr. Parminder K. Jasaal of the Institute for the Future and Scott Pulsipher of Western Governors University. Jassal will bring the audience through an interactive exercise in the year 2030 as they explore how the intersection of work and learning will impact education innovation.

On Friday, January 31, Kaya Henderson of Teach for All will discuss access to education and the lessons we are learning from Washington, D.C. Tom Vander Ark, CEO of Getting Smart, and a leading strategist in U.S. education will lead the final keynote, hosted by Jean Eddy of American Student Assistance; this year's lead sponsor of the conference.

Says Eddy, "ASA shares LearnLaunch's commitment to igniting education innovation. Across Boundaries will bring together key influencers in students' lives, who are well-positioned to reimagine how to help young people find their path and plan for their future. Through our partnership with LearnLaunch, we're curating tracks and programming to elevate the dialogue around how to empower students to discover their passions, explore new pathways, and pursue programs and careers best suited to their goals. The future of education starts here, and we're thrilled to be a part of it."

Across Boundaries, the premiere education innovation conference in New England, is expected to draw over 1,500 educators, strategic industry companies, entrepreneurs, students and investors who are focused on cutting-edge innovations that are transforming learning, and the way educational institutions do business.

For more information and to register for the 2020 LearnLaunch Across Boundaries Conference, please visit https://learnlaunch.org/2020conference/.

About LearnLaunch Institute LearnLaunch catalyzes a community that drives innovation to transform learning and increase achievement. Our education innovation ecosystem mobilizes educators, entrepreneurs, learners, investors, and industry affiliates. As a nonprofit, the Institute offers learning opportunities and connections to individuals, support services to schools, and a district network. We believe in expanding access to learning that is engaging, personalized, and effective. Edtech is a critical component of achieving this vision at scale. For more information, visit http://www.learnlaunch.org/, follow us @LearnLaunch or #LearnLaunch2020.

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